The rapid fall of the Sheikh Hasina government was due to social media. Although it may sound surprising, it is true.
The anti-quota movement began on June 5 of this year, demanding reform of the quota-based recruitment system prevalent in all types of jobs in Bangladesh. This movement originally began in 2018. At that time, as a result of continuous movement, the government announced the abolition of the quota system in first and second class jobs that had been in place for 46 years.
On June 5, 2024, the High Court declared the circular abolishing the freedom fighter quota illegal and delivered its verdict. In view of this, on June 6, Dhaka University students held a protest march and rally under the title of Dhaka University Students. This movement was named the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
The Emergence of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement
The organization was formed on July 1, 2024. From July 1, 2024, the students protesting under the banner of the ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ with four-point demands for quota reform in Bangladesh have been holding continuous programs. In which ordinary students participated. From July 2 to 6, 2024, students from various institutions in different parts of the country held protests, human chains, highway blockades, etc.
On July 7, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement blocked public transport and blocked roads in Dhaka, and later a blockade program was held across the country, which is known as the “Bangla Blockade” program. During the Bangla Blockade, only the metro rail was operational in the capital. In the following days, the same programs were held in different parts of the country, including Dhaka. In these programs, students were attacked by the Chhatra League and police. On July 14, the protesting students held a mass march in Dhaka and submitted a memorandum to President Md. Shahabuddin.
On that day, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the quota protesters “Grandchildren of Razakars.” In response to the prime minister’s remarks, the protesting students mockingly chanted slogans such as “Who are you? Who am I? Razakar, Razakar; Who said it? Who said it? Tyranny, tyranny” and “I went to seek rights; I went to Razakar,” etc. The next day, on July 15, the Awami League and various officials and ministers of the then government accused the protesting students of destroying the ‘spirit of the liberation war.’ On July 15, the anti-discrimination student movement demanded the withdrawal of the former prime minister’s statement.
When the withdrawal was not made, the students took to the streets again and started chanting slogans. In the following days, protests were held in various parts of the country under the leadership of the anti-discrimination student movement. On the night of July 17, a ‘complete shutdown’ program was announced for July 18. Later, in the face of the non-cooperation movement and a series of demands, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5.
Grandchildren of Razakars
Sheikh Hasina addressed the protesters as ‘Grandchildren of Razakars’ in a press conference after her China visit. This statement quickly spread on social media, and there was an immediate reaction among the protesters. That day, the protesters gathered at the TSC of Dhaka University and protested against Sheikh Hasina’s statement. The movement quickly spread on social media that day.
Call for the movement on social media
From the beginning of the movement, the call for the movement was given by giving status on social media. Let’s all come to Raju Bhaskar. The protesters were called with such posts. Social media was used in every program of the movement to spread the message.
Sheikh Hasina does not run away.
When the internet was turned off during the movement, Sheikh Hasina said in a speech that Sheikh Hasina does not run away. Later, this statement was widely circulated on social media. This statement influenced the people to accelerate the movement.
Step Down Sheikh Hasina-Hashtag
The intensity of the movement increased by spreading this slogan on social media. In support of the protesters, everyone started using this hashtag on social media. So that a message reached everyone that Sheikh Hasina must resign. This hashtag crossed the million mark on social media within a moment. This hashtag went viral after a single demand to bring down Sheikh Hasina.
Review
A close look at the 2024 quota movement and the subsequent fall of Sheikh Hasina shows that social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) played a major role here. Initially, this movement did not start with the aim of bringing down the government. However, due to the wrong policies and authoritarian attitude of the government, this movement gradually transformed from a quota reform to a movement to bring down the government.
The movement spread widely, and it was able to exert a strong influence among the people. Here, Sheikh Hasina was presented as a tyrannical ruler on social media. Because, through the videos and pictures of the way she oppressed students during the student movement, people understood how brutal Sheikh Hasina could be to stay in power. Even though many media outlets did not provide accurate information, the right issue came up on social media at that time.
Even though many media outlets did not present Sheikh Hasina in a negative way, these negative aspects were clearly highlighted on social media. Social media played a huge role in garnering public support for the movement.
Various social media outlets, including Facebook and Twitter, worked as tools for the July mass uprising. Social media played various roles, such as uniting people, attracting the attention of international media and the world, and encouraging people to take to the streets.
Even many media outlets around the world collected the latest information and pictures of the revolution from these social media outlets and disseminated them worldwide. These media outlets provided information to the people. They made people aware and vigilant in achieving their rights. These social media outlets even encouraged people to take part in the movement on the streets. This was possible due to the widespread publicity through social media.
As a result, social media played a key role in the July Revolution and the fall of Sheikh Hasina. In other words, social media played an effective role in the fall of Sheikh Hasina.
